What Merv rating should I use
Apr 19, 2021
What Merv rating should I use?
The Filter You Need Depends On Your Environment. The normal filters are available in three grades – Merv 8, Merv 11, and Merv 13.
What is a Merv rating? The higher the MERV rating on a filter, the fewer dust particles and other contaminants that can pass through it.
MERV = Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value The rating is the domestic and international industry-standard rating system established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
Furnace filters are “MERV” rated according to the size and quantity of particles they filter. The range is from 1 to 16, with 1 being the most porous and 16 the finest. One might think that the higher the MERV rating, the better. But for most homes, a filter in the 8 to 12 range is plenty good. It will filter the vast majority of airborne particles and protect your furnace components.
MERV filters rated higher than 12 plugs up much faster and need more frequent replacement. Only households with respiratory issues, serious allergies, or low-immunity issues should bother with them, and you have to stay on top of filter changes.
Generally speaking, most residential home air systems can adequately remove airborne contaminants with a filter rated MERV 8-13. MERV 14-20 are typically found in hospital and general surgery settings. The higher the MERV rating on a filter, the fewer dust particles can other contaminants can pass through it.
